New Farmers

New Farmers

The United States Department of Agriculture has several programs to assist Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. Through the Office of Advocacy and Outreach, the USDA is working to coordinate department efforts and to reach out to new and beginning farmers from all segments of the U.S. population. USDA programs assist beginning farmers and ranchers with credit, conservation, and education and training.

Support for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers is found in the 2008 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (Pub. L. No. 110-234, Section 7410,) and in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Pub. L. No. 107-171, Section 7405). The 2008 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act also created the Office of Advocacy and Outreach and within it the Small and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers group. This group assumes authority over the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers which was originally authorized under the Agricultural Credit Improvement Act of 1992, and the Office of Small Farms Coordination which dates back to 1996.